Devils Advocate: Trades Edition

Devils Advocate: Trades Edition is a no-BS podcast hosted by Lisa McGrath, featuring honest conversations about construction, business, leadership, workplace issues, and the hard truths shaping today's trades industry.

Property Management Insights: Challenges, Burnout, and Strategies with Carrie Viseur

S3 E20 • May 26, 2026 • 64 mins

Lisa McGrath and Carrie Viseur dive into property management, comparing practices in the US and Canada. They tackle challenges like taking vacations, staffing issues, poaching, turnover, and burnout. Carrie shares insights on building board relationships, conflict resolution, and essential skills for managers. The discussion extends to AI's role, managing contractor expectations, handling homeowner complaints, and addressing water damage and restoration. The episode wraps up with plans for a follow-up on burnout.

Key Points

Property managers often face burnout due to the overwhelming volume of emails and calls they need to handle daily.
The key to effective property management lies in cultivating strong relationships with boards and homeowners, which includes clear communication and conflict resolution.
Differences in pay and operational practices between property management in the US and Canada can impact job satisfaction and turnover rates among managers.

Speakers

Lisa McGrath

Host • 60%

Carrie Vizio

Guest • 40%

Chapters

0:20	Introduction and Carrie Vizio’s background
1:29	Cross-border property management experience
2:17	Comparing US and Canadian property management
4:02	Taking vacations as a property manager
5:01	Major pain points in property management
6:26	Streamlining processes for efficiency
8:23	Staffing differences: US vs. Canada
10:45	Poaching and turnover in the industry
11:23	Burnout in property management
13:30	Building relationships with boards
15:45	Conflict resolution strategies with boards
18:35	Essential skills for property managers
22:28	Role of external consultants and vendors
24:01	What makes a good consultant
26:30	Gathering honest feedback from board members
29:01	Managing suppliers and project delays
30:26	AI in property management
31:02	Managing contractor expectations
33:10	Handling homeowner complaints and floor replacements
34:10	Corporation vs. owner responsibilities in condos
39:55	Plumbing issues and owner responsibilities
42:48	Educating owners on maintenance
46:21	Quick response and optimal service
47:55	Handling emergencies and owner communication
49:42	Worst types of water losses
51:50	Black water in hoarding situations: real-life example
54:14	Impact of water damage on building materials
56:09	Restoration companies and project management
57:25	Management control and delegation challenges
59:08	On-site management assistance: benefits
1:00:06	Proactive involvement from boards
1:01:26	Plans for part two: burnout and overwhelmed managers
1:03:25	Closing remarks and appreciation

Transcript

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